December 14, 2010

MICHAEL JACKSON & SONY RELATIONSHIP FOR DUMMIES, Part 5

Martin Bashir had full, no-holds-barred access to Michael Jackson's life. Yet he opted NOT to follow Michael to anti-Sony protests in June 2002.

If I was a journalist aiming to portray Michael erratic & bizarre, the protests would have been excellent material for my documentary. An internationally renowned superstar protesting an internationally renowned record label, shouting from a megaphone “Sony Sucks” while holding signs like “Sony Sucks”, "Stop Criminal Mottola". Now THAT would be the money shot….but...Millions of worldwide audience tuning in, it would have been a bad publicity for Sony. Objective was to portray MICHAEL bad, not Sony.

Reverend Al Sharpton and Johnnie Cochran had formed National Action Network,

"Sony is punishing many innocent people who would have been the much needed beneficiaries of the proceeds of this project [What More Can I Give]. This the most blatant disgusting act of Corporate greed. Sony should be ashamed of themselves and the public should not let them get away with this, without a stink.

I know that hitting Sony in the pocket book and bad PR, is another great way of ensuring this gets released. All eyes need to be on the company to make sure proper attention is given. I know the Sony shareholders are meeting soon. Maybe the last effort should be made to focus on them. If they understand how this issue could potentially hurt Sony both in PR and sales, they will demand the release or replace the people who are hindering this. We need as much support now as ever. Charities should be getting involved by publicly calling upon Sony to release this or let someone release this. They need to let Sony know not to 'Throw this away', you cannot just 'throw' people's lives away because it is not convenient for you at this time. The charities and all people alike need to join in by publicly showing the world how stupid is this game that the record company is playing and get the victims to write, picket, demonstrate, contact the media, etc.

Sony only hopes time will pass and this issue will go away, they do not want to face the public in a bad light. One journalist told me that Sony's nonchalant response was that they already donated 13 million dollars in the past for charitable purposes and they do not need to do this to prove anything to anyone. They refuse to be strong armed into any fundraising effort. Maybe Sony needs to stop for a second and listen to the lyrics 'what more can I give' and then ask themselves that same question." -MARC SCHAFELL

''I have known Tommy for 15 or 20 years, and never once have I known him to say or do anything that would be considered racist. In fact, he's always been supportive of the black music industry. He was the first record executive to step up and offer to help us with respect to corporate accountability, when it comes to black music issues.'' -REV. AL SHARPTON

''Michael Jackson playing the race card is a cop-out -- a last-resort move by a guy who is frustrated that his big project didn't work.'' -CORY ROONEY, Producer

''To call Tommy Mottola a racist is just ridiculous -- he's one of the biggest supporters of black music I know.'' -STEVE STOUTE, Producer

July 8, 2002 Al Sharpton discussed on CNN the issue of racism and discrimination in the music industry. The show focused on Michael Jackson's comments toward Sony.

"Well, I think that Michael has said very clearly that he's concerned about how artists are treated in general and about the fact that there seems to be a particular problem in the music industry when it comes to race. I mean when you look at the fact that out of the four major record companies today you've never had a black president of either company, you can't find black businesses that have real long-term contracts. Artists are charged with million of dollars in promotions, yet they can't guide where they go.

"So in this national summit tomorrow [July 9th, 2002] that Michael will be a part of, you have people like the child of Otis Blackwell, who wrote all of Elvis Presley's hits and never got the credit on or the money. This is a historic problem that needs to be dealt with and I think that Michael Jackson being the largest record seller of all times, adds a lot of weight to the concern.”

"Tommy Mottola is not a racist. This whole thing is about Michael looking to put the blame for a bad record on somebody besides himself and it's an unfortunate way to do it. Despite what Michael says, he has been making his own marketing and management decisions for more than 12 years. What that kid really needs to do is stand in front of a full-length mirror and take a good hard look at the real problem." -FRANK DILEO

"I don't want to take sides, but this is really the most absurd situation" -SANDY GALLIN

"Charges of pedophilia really spooked a lot of American record buyers. There are a lot of parents who don't think he's a wholesome entertainer. It's shadowed him. He's trying to wage this bizarre campaign to rearrange his financial obligations. It's not going to happen"

“There is correspondence between Michael and Tommy that will show why Michael has done what he's done. It's all about Tommy goading Michael to respond the way that he has. My source says that on more than one occasion he has been present during speaker calls between Jackson and Sony Music President Tommy Mottola in which Mottola threatened Jackson. Not physical threats but certainly the threat that Michael would be destroyed and his career would be over if he didn't agree to Tommy's terms. It's Tommy saying 'I'll ruin you.' The basis for all this? The Beatles catalog. This has all been done by Tommy in an effort to squeeze Michael financially. Tommy wants the Beatles catalog."

July 13, 2002 "Michael has his reasons for speaking out like this. He never speaks out, so obviously there is a good reason for it, and he knows what he's doing." -JACKIE JACKSON

July 14, 2002 Ricky Martin defends Tommy Mottola

“Tommy has always been my friend. He's been there unconditionally for me, 24/7. Really I don't think it has any foundation. I've met Michael a few times and I wish him the best. But I have no idea why he said that” (that Mottola is racist).

July 14, 2002 Russell Simmons defends Tommy Mottola

"There are two things I know," he told the New York Post. "Tommy Mottola is not a racist, and, in black music, especially, you don't need $30 million to make an album successful. Michael Jackson's album didn't sell because of a lack of quality. If it's a hit record, it'll stick on its own." -RUSSEL SIMMONS

July 16, 2002Jermaine Jackson released a statement, on behalf of his Family

"Industry types, such as Russell Simmons and Ricky Martin are uninformed and should wait to hear the facts before making derisive statements about Michael. Comedians Dennis Miller and Robin Williams and others who bad-mouth and make comedic references to the scandalous [child molestation] allegations need to be reminded that not only was Michael not convicted of any crime, he was never charged nor was he ever indicted. Any statements to the contrary are libelous and subject to legal action.

We believe that the amount of record sales attributed to Michael is underestimated. We believe that the financial records are inflated and not accurate. There are numerous artists who are deceived by record companies who overwhelm them with lawyers, accountants, publicists, double-talk, false practices and shady business dealings. We believe that Tommy Mottola has used nepotism and cronyism to assure total financial control. We want a complete listing of each person involved in every aspect.

The people that he has working for him, where are they? Why won't they stand up for him? Their non-support is eerily similar to when Michael faced molestation allegations. None in his camp stood up for him. His family was left to take the fight to the media to refute the terrible allegations against him. I hope that Michael now understands that he must rid himself of those who only want to reap the benefits of being associated with Michael Jackson yet does nothing for the good of him.

There are numerous stories of our elder artists being cheated out of their life's work. We demand that Sony sign a full disclosure clause agreeing to justify each and every artist's account, record sales, distribution cost, and publicity accounts. Furthermore we want Sony to disclose standardize payments to artists similar to professional basketball contracts and calls on all negotiations to be regulated by draft placement and set by a minimum and maximum salary. We state unequivocally our support for Michael.

The house of Sony was built by Michael Jackson and (former Sony chairman) Walter Yentnikoff, and it all started with Michael's 'Off The Wall' album. Michael Jackson is the foundation for Sony Music. He is the cornerstone upon which others were able to build a career. We believe that Sony has escaped responsibility for its own history by seeking to undermine our brother Michael to fulfill their own self prophesy. Michael's talents are God given and neither Tommy Mottola nor anybody else can take it away from him. He has earned his place in popular music history."

July 18, 2002 "We're definitely considering a lawsuit. We've asserted claims against Sony. These are claims for breach of an agreement and fiduciary duties. We have Enron-like accounting claims concerning the under-reporting of revenues to Michael Jackson as well as other alleged improper accounting practices"

-MARTY SINGER, Michael Jackson lawyer

July 23, 2002 Mariah Carey defends Tommy Mottola.

“Mariah doesn't really know how to react to Michael Jackson's accusations. She was shocked, of course, as we all are," she told Music Insider. "Throughout all the years she has known Tommy, she has never known him to be a racist. Mariah does not feel that he is such a person after all the support he had given her. Michael did not have Mariah's permission or consent to use her in his battle with Sony and did not want any part of it. Mariah feels Michael is wrong and she is rather surprised that he has dragged her into this. She is very upset with him and is not behind him in this at all.”

-CINDI BERGER, Mariah Carey’s spokesperson

Jan 09, 2003 Tommy Mottola “resigned” from Sony.

Jan 12, 2003 Bashir conducts his final interview with Michael in Miami

Although Bashir delivered soft blows to unsuspecting Michael since the onset interview, during the final interview, the tone of the interview changes, Bashir delivers massive blows. Michael appears extremely tense, annoyed and hurt as Bashir ambushes Michael. The close proximity in time between Mottola termination & Bashir's brutal blow during the final interview is noteworthy.

STAY TUNED...

"I knew I had to confront Jackson about what I thought was an obsession with children. It just couldn't be avoided. Confronting him wouldn't be easy but it had to happen."